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How to Make Herbal Potpourri

Making your own herbal potpourri is super easy and a fun wintertime project! Plus, it's a great gift idea, perfect to make with kiddos, and a great addition to holiday ambiance, sock drawers, cars, or the laundry basket. Who doesn't love all-natural botanical fragrance?

I prefer to use orris root powder, which comes from the rhizome of two species of European iris. The rhizomes resemble ginger and are harvested in August, stripped of their rootlets and bark, and dried until they have a chalky appearance. Dried orris root smells like violets and is commonly used in natural toothpastes and as a fixative in perfumes to enhance other aromas.

When making your potpourri, try to find a balance of color, size, and texture, and don't worry too much about the scent of your dried herbs since they will absorb the scent of your essential oil blend. You will be able to enjoy the aroma for weeks! You can use any number and combination of herbs that you like. I try to find a nice mix of bulky and interestingly shaped herbs along with light and fluffy herbs for softening the blend.

This blend is sweet and seasonal with a light floral touch and would be great to have around the house this holiday season. Once mixed up, fill a decorative bowl near the front of your house, avoiding direct sunlight.

Bulk Herb Ingredients for Potpourri Base

I used 1-3 handfuls of each of the following. You'll see as you go which herbs look best together - be creative!

Alieta, blog contributor, is an Oregon native with a two-year certificate from the Columbines School of Botanical Studies. Her other professional accreditations include: a degree in Computer Science at Oregon State University, a degree in Philosophy, Spanish, and Graphic Design from Portland State University, a scuba diving certification, and non-violent communication training. She enjoys spending her free time hiking in the woods with her Labradoodle, Pepperoni, or enjoying the view from her garden with her cat and a bubbly beverage. And winning the local Eugene hackathon!